Rice is one of the most important food crops in the world. However, with traditional methods 40% of the world’s irrigation water is applied for rice production. Increasing water scarcity due to climate change and competition from urbanization is making this traditional method of rice production unsustainable in the long term. Combined with other factors like shortage of labor and decreasing arable land, new ideas and innovations in rice cultivation are critically needed to meet rising demand and ensure food security.

One of the potential solutions to address these challenges is direct seeding. Direct seeding is a crop establishment system wherein rice seeds are sown directly into the field, as opposed to the traditional method of growing seedlings in a nursery, then transplanting into flooded fields.

Besides saving significant irrigation water, labor, and time, direct seeding substantially decreases emissions of greenhouse gases. Some of the trade-offs associated with the shift from transplanted rice to direct seeding may include higher seed rates, lodging, and risk of weed infestation.

Although direct seeding is widely practiced in the United States and South America, productivity challenges have limited its wide-scale adoption in Asia, where 90% of the global rice is produced and consumed. This underscores the need for an integrated and scientific approach to make direct seeded rice socioeconomically and environmentally sustainable.

DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLESOLUTIONS FOR RICE SYSTEMS

DIRECT SEEDED RICEA more sustainable approach to rice production

Advantages of Direct Seeding• No significant reduction of yield under optimal conditions• Savings on irrigation water by 12-35% under efficient

water management practices• Reduces labor and drudgery by eliminating seedling

uprooting and transplanting• Reduces cultivation time, energy, and cost• No plant stress from transplanting• Faster maturation of crops• Lower GHG emissions• Mechanized DSR provides employment opportunities for

youth through service provision business model• Increases total income by reducing cost of cultivation

Current constraints• Higher seed rates• Seeds exposed to birds and pests• Weed management• Higher risk of lodging• Risk of poor or non-uniform crop establishment

Partnerships for Direct-Seeded RiceThe Direct Seeded Rice Consortium (DSRC), a multi-stakeholder organization convened by IRRI with partner members across Asia, are collaborating to improve the socioeconomic and environmental sustainability of rice production systems by developing and optimizing innovations, practices, and methodologies for both dry and wet direct seeded rice. These include:

• Mechanization of farming operations, includingcrop establishment and harvest

• Use of most suitable inbred and hybrid ricecultivars

• Seed treatment solutions• Refining seed rates for both inbred and hybrid

rice cultivars

• More efficient water management, includingdrip irrigation systems

• Optimizing nutrient management• Integrated pest management, including weeds• Application of GIS and drone technology for

precision management• Minimizing post-harvest losses

Contact

Dr. Virender KumarDSRC CoordinatorSenior Scientist - Sustainable Impact Platformvirender.kumar@irri.org

For more information on DSR, visit facebook.com/dsrc.irri

irri.org

IRRI aims to improve livelihoods and nutrition, abolishing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition among those who depend on rice-based agri-food systems. In doing so, IRRI’s work protects the health of rice farmers and consumers, and the environmental sustainability of rice farming in a world challenged by climate change. IRRI’s work promotes the empowerment of women and supports opportunities for youth in an equitable agri-food system.

October 2019

DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLESOLUTIONS FOR RICE SYSTEMS

Use of hand-drawn drum seeder for wet direct seeding

Drip irrigation system for dry direct seeded rice Mechanized dry direct seeding